Among the world's religions, the views on masturbation vary widely. Some religions see it as spiritually destructive practice, some see it as spiritually undesirable and others take a situational view. Among the latter religions, some views of masturbation are permissible if used as a means for sexual self-control, or as part of a healthy self-exploration, but forbid if it is done with the wrong motives or as an addiction.
According to the Krondorfer BjÃÆ'¶rn, "Auto-erotic sex becomes possible as a distinct entity between sexual sins only when autonomous self appears." He goes on to quote Laqueur, "Only after Freud's revolution... a cultural shift has occurred." Masturbation is now regarded as adult, non-pathological, and fun activity. " Beginning in the 1950s, taking energy with feminism in the 1960s and early 1970s, with subsequent sex wars, and with the worldwide gay movement in the last quarter of this century, this would be the arena of sexual politics and art across the entire spectrum of society... Because this culture changes across the spectrum, even theological reassessment of masturbation as a positive sexual practice is possible - though, admittedly, rare. "
A 2016 Psychology Today article states that the more religious people, the more likely they are to limit their sexual fantasies, have fewer sex partners, use less pornography and express strong disapproval of the use of sex toys.
Video Religious views on masturbation
Abrahamic religions
Biblical Sciences
The Onan biblical story (Genesis 38) is traditionally associated with referring to masturbation and curse, but the sexual act described by this story is coitus interruptus, not masturbation. There is no explicit claim in the Bible that masturbation is a sin.
According to James Nelson, there are three interpretive interpretations of why Onan's actions were condemned: Onan's story reflects a strong "procreative" accent of Hebrew interpretation of sexuality, a constant "scientific mind" to consider that the child is in sperm. in the same way the plants are contained in their seeds, and male masturbation and acts of homosexuality have been condemned stronger than the same actions by women in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Ilona N. Rashkow states: "it is questionable whether masturbation is considered a category of 'negative' sexual activity in the Hebrew Bible" and that Lev 15:16 "refers to emissions rather than the circumstances." Jones and Jones expressed James R. Johnson's view of masturbation: "to treat a solitary sexual experience, whether a wet dream or masturbation, as a purely ceremonial hygiene issue and not a matter of morality." They declare: "Johnson suggests that Leviticus 15: 16-18 should set the tone for dealing with our masturbation, verses 16 and 17 say that a person who has a jet beam must wash and be unclean until the afternoon." Verse 18 goes on to say that if a men and women have sexual intercourse, the same hygiene rules apply.By raising sexual relations separately, this section of course implies that semen emissions in verses 16 and 17 occur for men individually.This section may refer to nocturnal Emotions, or dreams wet, rather than masturbating, but the pericope is not specific, Johnson suggests that this part of Levitic is essential for treating isolated sexual experiences, whether wet dreams or masturbation, as a matter of pure ceremonial hygiene and not as a matter of morality.This part also no longer rejects the experience solitary than in sexual relations. Because people Kr now usually sees the Old Testament ceremonial law as invalid, the author argues that masturbation itself is not a moral issue from a biblical perspective and is no longer a ceremonial concern. "
T.J. Wray explains what the Bible actually says (and does not say) about masturbation: "Back to Levilis's list of sexual taboos, strangely missing from the list is the mention of masturbation." Then he went on to discuss Gen 38 and Lev 15 and concluded "None of this, however, represents a clear condemnation of masturbation."
Carl L. Jech stated "Masturbation is never mentioned in the Bible". M.K. Malan and Vern Bullough have declared "wherever in the Bible there is a clear unrivaled reference to masturbation" and "masturbation is not mentioned in the Bible or Book of Mormon".
According to the Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality and Gender, some scholars argue that the word 'hand' in Matthew 5: 29-30, Mark 9: 42-48, and Matthew 18: 6- 9 may imply masturbation as in Misnah ( m. Nid. 2.1 ). The biblical Encyclopedia of the Bible and the Study of Gender reveals Will Deming's view: "The sin of the eyes, hands and feet may be derived from the tradition of warnings formulated against lustful views (by the eye) masturbation (by hand), and adultery (with 'feet', Hebrew euphemism for genitalia). "In addition to the eyes, Deming argues that" the hand plays a major role in lust also through masturbation ".
Christianity
Today, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and many Protestant Christians regard masturbation as a sin.
First Church
Father Clement of Alexandria from Egypt (c 150 - c. 215) wrote in his book Paedagogus , or The Instructor of Children :
Because of its divine institution for human propagation, it will not be left ejaculated, nor will it be damaged, nor will it be wasted.
Academics such as Raj Bhala and Kathryn M. Kueny say Clement's statement includes coitus interruptus and masturbation, actions that make "natural injuries". "The use of a herb of spermicide" is also included in it, according to Kueny. John G. Younger assumes that Clement speaks of masturbation as well as "masculine lady and sissy man" in his book Paedagogus , making mention of violating the nature of "for sex for purposes other than to produce children".
However, Catholic moral theologian Charles E. Curran claims that "Church fathers are practically silent on the simple question of masturbation." Arthur J. Mielke expressed James A. Brundage's view as: "the themes of masturbation and sexual fantasies are of no importance to pagan or Christian writers until the fourth or fifth century" (when the advent of monasticism took place). However, Brundage himself states in his book that the authors did not "pay much attention to these things", and "paid little attention to the practice of masturbation and homosexuality", without declaring "unimportant".
Catholic academic Giovanni Cappelli conducted the study "on the subject of masturbation during the first millennium.Among the conclusions are: (1) There is no place in the Old Testament or in New there is an explicit confrontation with masturbation problems (2) Cappelli does not find in the writings of the Apostolic Father (3) The first explicit reference to masturbation is found in Anglo-Saxon and Celtic "repentance" in the sixth century in which the subject was treated in a practical and juridical way. (4) It would be wrong, however, to interpret the Father's silence about masturbation as a tacit consent, or as virtual indifference. "James A. Brundage offers a different view on the fourth point. He believes that neither the original pagan writers nor early Christian writers paid much attention to these things because they "seem to think they are trivial"
Thomas Laqueur agrees. He notes that, "The ancient world did not really care about the subject, it was the background of Jewish and Christian teaching about sexuality, and even solitary sex as a serious moral problem could be categorized with rare precision in cultural history, Laqueur identifies it with the anonymous channel publication of Onania in about 1722. Masturbation is the creation of the Enlightenment, of some of its most important figures, and the deepest changes it releases.He is modern, initially worried not to be conservative but progressive.This is the first democratic sexuality that could be an ethical concern for women, boys and girls, as well as for their elders. "
This is because Laqueur claims that masturbation "can only be so named when 'self' emerges as an autonomous being."
Giovanni Cappelli, as quoted by James F. Keenan, argues that as the monastic community evolved, the monks' sexual lives were under the supervision of two theologians, John Cassian (365-433) and Caesarius of Arles (470-543), who commented on " bad 'life' solitary '. Cappelli claims that "their concern is not by the act of masturbation, but with the monks who swore purity.The promise of the monks' masturbates illicit acts, the act itself is not considered to be sinful." Keenan added: "In fact, as Cappelli, Louis Crompton, and James Brundage said, before Cassian, masturbation is not considered a sexual offense for anyone."
Brundage states in his book that Cassian considers "masturbation and the problem of night pollution centers in sexual morality and devotes much attention to both things". Cassian considers "nighttime emissions" a very important issue because it is an indication of "carnal lust" and, if a monk still does not cope, "his religious life and safety may be in danger". In Conlationes , Cassian uses the word "uncleanness" ( immunditia , as written in Collossians 3: 5) as the same substitute for both masturbation and nocturnal emission, clearly considers masturbation as unacceptable forms of "sexual release". In the De institutis coenobiorum , he puts special emphasis on "sexual sin, which includes masturbation and sexual fantasies". Brundage sees Caesarius having the same view as Cassian. In his book Sermons, Caesarius considers "any sexual yearning, to say there is no intentional self-stimulation, serious sin and puts him on a footing even with adultery or excessive indulgence in sex by married people".
It is known that, before the sixth century, the Church's teaching on masturbation and many other moral problems was incoherent. Catholic researchers such as Bernard Hoose and Mark Jordan have found that claims to the Church's continuing teaching on the subject of sexuality, life and death and crime and punishment are "not true". Not only are there "inconsistencies, contradictions and even non-logicalities" in Church doctrine but the work of researchers has led to the view that tradition itself is "not a guarantor of the truth of a particular doctrine."
Eastern Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox Church or Christian Orthodox Church views sexuality as a gift from God that finds its fulfillment in marital relations, and therefore the misuse of the gift of human sexuality is sin. Since the act of masturbation is self-directed, and because of its inability to express love and concern for others, it is seen as a deviation from the use of the gift of sexuality. This is especially noticeable when masturbation becomes addictive. At least, the practice of self-pleasures is seen as disrespectful of the purpose of giving God's sexuality.
Sexual sin from adultery, adultery and masturbation, and hatred, jealousy, drunkenness and other sins are regarded as the sin of the heart as well as the body. It is thought that turning away from sexual sins is turning away from self-pleasure for the purpose of self-satisfaction. Instead of turning to the desire of the flesh, the Orthodox Christians turn to the Holy Spirit, whose fruit is believed to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, kindness, loyalty, tenderness and self-control.
Speaking of Egyptian Gnostics relating to their earlier experience with them, Epiphanius of Salamis (310/320 - 403), a Byzantine Church Father and Doctor of the Church, stated in his book Panarion , or :
They perform genital acts, but prevent pregnancy of children. Not to produce offspring, but to satisfy the lust, they want corruption.
John T. Noonan, Jr. said that the Gnostics described by Epiphanius practiced "nonprocreative sexual acts" as central to their religious rituals. Epiphanius calls these practices, which include coitus interruptions, masturbation, and homosexual acts, as "demon rituals and ceremonies". Shenoute (348-466), another Byzantium that is considered sacred in Oriental Orthodoxy, views masturbation as "sexual misconduct" and "forbidden sexual activity".
Oriental Orthodoxy
Coptic Orthodox Church views masturbation as sin because it is considered "a form of sexual pleasure outside God's design".
Roman Catholic
In the Catholic Church Catechism, the Catholic Church teaches:
By masturbating is understanding the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs to gain sexual pleasure. "Both the Church Magisterium, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful undoubtedly and have firmly stated that masturbation is an intrinsically and highly disorganized act." "The deliberate use of sexual faculties, for whatever reason, outside marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought beyond "the sexual relations demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual giving and human procreation in the context of true love is attained." To form a fair judgment of the subject's moral responsibilities and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective dysfunction, the strength of the habit acquired, the anxiety condition or other psychological or social factors diminished, even if not reduced to a minimum, moral error.
Although "it is said that psychology and sociology show that [masturbation] is a normal phenomenon of sexual development, especially among young people," this does not change the fact that it is "irregular and seriously disorganized" and "that, whatever motives for acting in this way, the deliberate use of sexual faculties outside normal marital relationships is essentially contrary to the finality of the faculty. To that end no sexual relations are demanded by the moral order, that is the relationship that recognizes the 'full sense of mutual procreation self and human in the context of true love. '"
This is because the deliberate use of sexual faculties outside marriage is, according to the teachings of the Church, contrary to the primary purpose of procreation and the union of husbands and wives in the sacrament of marriage. In addition, the Church teaches that all other sexual activities - including masturbation, homosexual acts, sodomy actions, all sex outside or before marriage, and the use of any form of birth control or contraception - are highly irregular. , because it disrupts the natural order, purpose, and end of sexuality. To form a fair judgment of the subject's moral responsibilities and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective dysfunction, the strength of the habit acquired, the anxiety condition or other psychological or social factors diminished, even if not reduced to a minimum, moral error.
Official Roman Catholic criticism of masturbation for example: Pope Leo IX Ad splendidum nitentis (1054), a decision from the Holy Office dated March 2, 1679, Pope Pius XII Allocutio (Oct 8, 1953), and Acta Apostolicae Sedis 48 dated May 19, 1956.
Scholars such as Robert Baker and Simon Lienyueh Wei believe that Augustine of Hippo (354-430), considers masturbation a sin. Other scholars, Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks and Carly Daniel-Hughes, say that Augustine condemns all sexual activities that conflict with procreation including homosexual acts and masturbation - or "solitary pleasure". Carly says that Augustine also considers "mutual masturbation" as an "unnatural relationship" based on Rome 1. Isidore of Seville, the other Fathers of the Church of Latins and the Doctors of the Church, considers masturbation a "sissy" habit, although the early penitent writers seem to disagree strongly with him. In his book Etymologiae (c 600-625), Isidore says that by masturbation a man denigrates "his sexual strength with his languid body".
According to Simon Lienyueh Wei, as cited by some scholars, John Cassian and Augustine of Hippo argue that it is a sin if emissions are the result of "a lustful encounter or a pleasant memory"; if not, it is seen as a "physical function".
Aurà © don Lie Godefroy explains that masturbation is not always considered a "mortal sin" that is classified as a sexual perversion.
Mark W. Elliott says that Pope Gregory I (c 540-64) - commonly known as Gregory the Great, a Latino Church Father and Church Doctor - treats Leviticus 15, which discusses ritual filth, as "giving rule to all in the church community by linking emissions to sexual relations rather than previous monastic nocturnal emission 'interpretations... However, he determines that nocturnal emissions - if caused by natural superfluity or disease - do not problematic for sanctity, but if there is consent (ie, masturbation) they are problematic. "Making parallels between women's menstruation and" accidental loss of semen ", Gregory states that" natural abundance "does not prevent both lay and clergy from participating in the Eucharist.
Canon 8 of the 6th century Sinode Grove of Victory imposes repentance for "those who [have a relationship] between thighs, [three] years, but if by hand alone or by another hand, two years." These actions refer to "mutual masturbation" and "femoral immorality". The earliest other rule that also regulates penance for masturbation is Quote from the Book of St. David and the Canon John the Faster. Then, much of the initial regret, such as Penitential of Finnian, Penitential of Columban, Penitential of Cummean, Paenitentiale Theodori, Paenitentiale Bedae, and two "synods of St. Patrick", impose penance with varying degrees of severity for masturbation (alone or in company) for monastic and layman.
From the sixth to the eleventh centuries, there are more references in regret for masturbation, but it is considered more pleasurable than other meat sins. In remorse written by Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus (seventh century), for example, "penance is from seven days for scholars who shed his seed without touching himself, up to fifty days for a person who voluntarily masturbates in a church. tens of days may seem a lot, but very small when you know that at the same time, a young man who touches a virgin woman gets a full year. "
After the turn of the first millennium, more theologians began to condemn masturbation in an increasingly shrill manner. Peter Damian, a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, in his Book of Gomorrah addressed to Pope Leo IX, wrote that masturbation is the lowest class of homosexual sin. If left unchecked, it can "rise with value" to "stroking the male parts to each other" (mutual masturbation), which can cause a person to "fornicate between the thighs" (femoral relationship) "or even behind" (anal intercourse ). Thomas Aquinas, a famous Roman Catholic Church physician, writes that masturbation is "unnatural hatred," which is a kind of lust like bestiality, sodomy, and pederasty, and that "by getting pollution [ie, ejaculation other than sexual intercourse], without intercourse, for the sake of sexual pleasures... relates to the sin of 'uncharity' which some people call 'drunkenness' [Latin: mollitiem, lit. 'tenderness, inadequacy']. "
Pope Leo IX himself condemns masturbation more clearly, from which is traditionally considered a mortal sin, classified as a sexual perversion. But tolerance continues to be great, as historian FranÃÆ'§ois Lebrun puts it: "It is important to note that [masturbation] [...] are all the only natural offenses that have never appeared on a protected list of cases, the absolute, in their view of gravity, reserved only for the bishop. Is that not evidence that it is too common for any priest to have the possibility of liberating him immediately without reference to his superiors? "
At the end of the medieval period, Jean Gerson wrote a handbook called On the Confession of Masturbation . According to researcher Chloe Taylor, this guide tells the clergy to "insist that the penitent (male) confesses the sin of masturbation, which... is considered... [currently becoming] a more serious sin than raping a nun, incest, or kidnap and raping virgins and wives but more commonly and universally (among men) the sins that are assumed, judging from unbelief with the deniers of masturbation instructed to meet... "
Taylor goes on to note that "medieval theologians acknowledge that by investigating... suggestive details, and by... leading questions, they run the risk of teaching sinful behavior to penitents who were previously unaware of the various sexual possibilities available for them.They concluded, however, it is worthy to teach some young penitents how to masturbate to save the greater number who have masturbated without acknowledging it. "He notes that, according to Gerson's book," Even once the penitent has acknowledged his sin the priest should not satisfied, and to ask for more details... Especially remarkable is the instruction that the imam feigns a certain casualness, and that he speaks to the person pleading guilty to the weak affection, calling him a "friend" and pretending that masturbation not sinful or embarrassing to make the penitent meng admitted, insinuating that he could relate to penitent actions - "Friend, I'm fine. believe it "- only to then retreat and condemn it as sin and shame after all."
The layman does not make regular recognition at the moment but, "For those as ordained and conscientiously who perform frequent and rigorous confessional examinations, the obligation to confess in circumstances like Gerson explains even for the most routine and personal sins such as masturbation comes to cause anxiety... The early medieval atonement was only for great sin, but now the most mundane sins can be given a very tortious attention. "
The Roman Catholic Church accused Albigensian of masturbating as part of their propaganda campaign against them.
Brundage notes that "medieval conversion sometimes mentions female autoeroticism and lesbianism.They treat female masturbation in much the same way as men's actions, although they are more censious than women's sexual games involving dildos and other mechanical help than the use of male- men from mechanical devices in masturbation. "
Pierre Humbert states, "During the Middle Ages, masturbation - so-called" tenderness "- was considered an unlawful sin, but for most theologians, pastors and adulterers, the offense was far less serious than fornication, adultery or sodomy; prefer not to talk too much about it so it does not suggest its existence to those who do not know it. "
According to AurÃÆ' Â © lie Godefroy, "In fact, until the 18th century, masturbation did not have much place in the Catholic imagination, where it is most commonly referred to as simple coitus interruptus", while Protestant treats it much more seriously as a major aberration.
Speaking of the Catholic dissident theologian Charles Curran, James J. Walter and Timothy E. O'Connell said that "since 1968, Curran used the idea [fundamental choice] as a way of understanding the fact that Catholic tradition has long argued that masturbation is a serious abuse of sexuality human beings though statistically evidence suggests that the majority of human beings - including many whose attitudes show a generous and loving approach - engage in this behavior we make this paradox?... Curran points out that for various reasons the claim that masturbation involves "objective material of the grave" In this case, the argument is about the objective character of the action and not the moral nature of the person. " Later, Curran states in his works: "In general I believe that masturbation is wrong because it fails to integrate sexuality into the service of love.Masturbation denotes a failure in the total integration of sexuality in a person. This mistake is not always serious; Catholic educators should openly teach that masturbation is not always a serious problem and often, especially for teenagers, it is not so important... However, teachers should not leave teenagers with the impression that there is absolutely nothing wrong with masturbation. "In 1986 , Curran was forbidden to teach Catholic theology by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, for his teachings on "contraception, sterilization, masturbation, divorce, and homosexuality".
A study commissioned by the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) in 1972 but not approved by the board when published in 1977, entitled Human Sexuality: A New Direction in American Catholic Thought, shows that the number of Catholic theologians who are not believe it has been claimed that masturbation action should not be judged as an objective moral crime, but judged in the context of the lives of the people involved. The author of this book has the same position as Curran, not saying that masturbation is not a sin, it's just that "not every intentional masturbation act is necessary for mortal sin." The reaction to the 1977 study showed that the difference of opinion was not unanimous, bringing controversy within the CTSA itself. In 1979, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published an advisor who deplored the "wrong conclusions" of the books, identified "many misconceptions of the Second Vatican Council" in it, and said that the book reduced the "sexual morality of love to the problem" of sentiment personal, feelings, [and] habits.... '"George Weigel reiterated that" this theological error leads to practical guidance that "separates itself from or directly contrary to Catholic teaching" as taught by the Church's highest teaching authority. "
While Curran may say that masturbation is morally acceptable under certain conditions, according to Richard A. Spinello, Pope John Paul II does not say that masturbation is always immoral because "physical action is itself wrong and irregular". He did not examine physical actions as the only basis for moral judgment. In the uniformity of Veritatis , John Paul II states that "the morality of human action" is judged by considering what people rationally choose by "willful will," and by the "nearest end." In his encyclical, he writes: "To be able to understand the object of action that determines moral action, it is necessary to place itself in the perspective of the acting person." Masturbation does not always cause great sin, or mortal sin, but it can not be said that masturbation is not "wrong" or is a "serious problem". Joseph Farraher concludes that masturbation gives rise to a minor sin in the case of "action is done only by the realization of some or only part of the choice of will," or, in Harvey's words, "no mortal sin... while lacking in consciousness, , or half asleep, or when someone is carried away by a sudden passion and finds himself acting despite the rejection of the will. "
In his attempt to explain John Paul II's Theology of the Body, Anthony Percy writes in his book that "pornography and masturbation constitute the destruction of the symbolic and nuptial meaning of the human body.... God gives erotic energies of men and women , we call it sex drive, this is good and forms part of the attraction between men and women, which is part of the meaning of body marriage, outlet in love, not lust... In masturbation, erotic energy is self-directed...... therefore, masturbation is a symbol, not love, but loneliness. "Jeffrey Tranzillo adds to explain:" Every time men and women use the body to simulate love or authenticity for reasons that ultimately self-serve and therefore self-destruct and others , they falsified the language that was created to speak.That is what underlies the sin of adultery. "He said that" the body's abuse is also wrong a underlying other sexual sin such as contraception, masturbation, fornication, and homosexual acts ".
Protestantism
According to Brian F. Linnane, "until the 20th century, the true moral norms for sexual behavior were similar for Protestants and Roman Catholics, although the justification for these norms may be... quite different... For both groups, sexual expression limited to a lifetime, monogamy, heterosexual marriage, premarital sex, adultery, homosexual relations, masturbation, and the use of birth control are all forbidden by Christian churches. " Rainer Brandes noted, "For a long time, Protestant theology has placed sexuality exclusively on reproductive service." Adrian Thatcher says that Protestants have historically regarded masturbation as a sin, even though they "appeal directly to the Bible whenever possible."
Protestant reformers such as Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church, and John Calvin, founder of Reformed Churches, condemn masturbation in their works. Likewise, a reformist pioneer, Girolamo Savonarola, believes that masturbation is a mortal sin.
Lutheranism
Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church considers immoral masturbation. He wrote that he "pitied poor girls and young men who were tortured in the flesh by night."
Luther sees masturbation as sin more terrible than heterosexual rape because such rape is considered "in accordance with nature", while masturbation is "unnatural". He also views masturbation and coitus interruptus as killing children before they have a chance to be born, therefore, for him, masturbation is essentially the same as an abortion. Roman Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, also thinks masturbation is worse than rape.
Luther argues that marriage is a way of avoiding the sin of masturbation: "Nature never lets us... we are all pushed toward secret sin." To put it rudely but honestly, if you do not go into women, it goes into your shirt. "
Luther, quoting the apostle Paul, makes the case: "It is better to marry than to lust with lust." I do not doubt that everyone who wants to live a life of sadness, though not married and without special grace, will understand these words and what they say. For St. Paul does not talk about secret things, but from a general feeling, known to everyone who lives outside of marriage but has no mercy to achieve it. Because he considers this burning with passion for all who live with no mercy but without the necessary grace, and do not give any medicine other than marriage. If nothing is common or if no other advice is given, she will not recommend the wedding. It is known in Germany as a "secret disease," but this expression would not be so common if the disease was really rare... There is no doubt that those who have purity of holiness still occasionally feel an evil and tempting passion. it's temporary, therefore the problem is not this burning. In short, "burning with lust" is the heat of the flesh, which goes on endlessly, and daily attraction to women or men; we find this wherever there is no desire and love for holiness. These unhealthy people are few and far between those who have God's grace for chastity. Now such heat is stronger in some, and weaker on the other. Some of them suffered so much that they masturbated. All this should be in a married plantation... If they break free outside marriage, then the pain of conscience is immediately there, and this is the most unbearable and the saddest torment of the earthly lands. This is an unavoidable result, that most of those who live without marriage and without grace in celibacy are forced to sin bodily in uncleanness, and others are forced to emerge from holiness and into unholiness. The former must require a damned life, the latter being useless and useless. And where are the spiritual and secular rulers who consider the plight of these unfortunate souls? Every day they help the devil to increase this misery with their pressure and coercion. "
In his writings at 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-5 ("It is the will of God that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid fornication, that each of you must learn to control your own body in a sacred and honorable way, not in passionate passions like the unbelievers, who do not know God; "), Luther suggests that," All young people must... are determined to strengthen themselves against sexual passions and desires by reading and meditating on psalms or other parts of the Word of God... If taste sexually persistently tempts you, be patient, refuse them for as long as necessary, even if it takes more than a year, but above all, keep praying If you feel that you can not take it anymore, pray that God will give you a partner faithful to whom you can live in harmony and true love... I have known many people who, because of their rude and embarrassing fantasies, indulge in the hassle rat them with uncontrolled lust. desire, they abandon self-control, and fall into the aworeness of the lity. In the end, they must bear the terrible punishment. "
Immanuel Kant, (who was raised as a Pietis), when writing about masturbation, argued that, "... the question here is whether man is subject to the obligation to himself in relation to this pleasure, the offense which is contaminating (not merely degrading)" humanity in his own person. This drive for pleasure is called the lust of the flesh (or just lust). The representatives it generates are called polytheism; virtue associated with this sensual impulse is called holiness, represented here as a human obligation to itself. Lust is called unnatural if a person is resurrected not by a real object but by his imagination, so he himself creates one, contrary to [natural] purpose; because in this way the imagination raises a desire that is contrary to the end of nature, and even to the end is even more important than the love of life itself, because it aims to preserve the whole species and not just individuals. That such abusive use (and so misuse) of a person's sexual attributes is a violation of the duty to oneself, and indeed that is contrary to morality at its highest level, happens to everyone immediately, by thinking of it, and arousing reluctance to this thought in such a way so it is considered indecent even to call this representative the right name. But it is not easy to produce rational proof that the unnatural, and even unusual, use of a person's unnatural sexual attributes is unacceptable as a violation of the obligation to self (and indeed, insofar as it involves its unnatural use, the violation of the highest degree). - The basis of proof is, indeed, that with it the man gives up his personality (throw it away), because he uses himself only as a means to satisfy animal impulses. But this does not explain the high level of humanity violations within a person by such a representative in his abnormality, which appears in its form (the disposition it involves) to surpass and even kill itself. It consists, then, in this case:... unreasonable passions, making man not only the object of pleasure but, furthermore, the thing contrary to nature, that is, the disgusting object, and therefore depriving it of all respect for oneself. "
In Germany during the period of the Weimar Republic, there were Protestant societies for moral purity opposed to masturbation. In the Adenauer era, there was a very strict sexual morality in the Church. However, in the late 1960s, Protestant theologians began to define human sexuality. Siegfried Keil emerged as the main character in this movement but even he continued to oppose masturbation, viewing it as immoral. However, in 1971, the Church published "Denkschrift zu Fragen der Sexualethik" ("Memorandum on the Problem of Sexual Ethics"), which took a very liberal position in masturbation. Sexolog Volkmar Sigusch claimed that the position in the memorandum was read as might be written by liberal sex education teachers, not by priests and theologians. Despite this liberalization, there was a growing alienation between the Church and the faithful in the 1970s when people no longer turned to church for advice on sexual morality but to doctors and sexual magazines. This is a dramatic change from the 1950s, when the Churches have dominated the field of public and private morality in Germany. In the 1960s, theologians have been criticized or respected by the media as moral figures but now they are simply ignored. However, the liberalization of theologians and priests primarily serves to perpetuate the majority view of the Church as a backward and traditionalist.
Despite its liberalism, the 1971 memorandum still prohibits sex outside of marriage, the use of pornography and group sex. Sigusch writes, "Protestant ethics disqualifies most of the sexual relationships that unmarried people have today... [However] the attitude of the Lutheran Church in Germany (EKD) memorandum about masturbation, contraception, [and] sexual practices... is.. most liberal... Sexual deviant behavior enjoys tolerance... "There has been no other memorandum on sexuality since then, despite attempts to arrange it between 2010 and 2015.
Today, Frank Muchlinsky and Maike WeiÃÆ'Ÿ from EKD argue that masturbation is not a sin.
Regardless of its official liberalism, EKD contains Christians with a much more conservative view of sexuality. An academic study of 2015 found that although Germany is a relatively liberal sex country and that pornography of young people is related to masturbation, the use of pornography is lower among religious adolescents. The study authors found that: "... organizational religious activity is negatively associated with the use of pornography.Participants who attend church or other religious gatherings are regularly older on their first exposure (weak association) and rarely use pornography (strong association). confirming findings from previous studies on the relationship between religiosity and sexual behavior: the frequent presence of religious services is generally associated with greater sexual abstinence, fewer lifelong sexual partners, delayed age of sexual debut and lower likelihood of premarital sex... We also found a negative relationship between non-organizational religious activity and current pornographic engagement (a relatively large influence.) Spending time in private religious activities, such as prayer, meditation, or Bible study, is associated with lower frequency of use of pornography in the end. month... In accordance with the findings in several previous studies... we found that the presence of religion is negatively related to the use of pornography. "
There is an ongoing debate about sexual ethics between liberal and conservative ministers in the German church.
The sexually liberal Swedish Church argues that masturbation is not a sin. Church pastors often discuss this issue in confirmation classes for teenagers. The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church also has a positive view of masturbation, which states that it provides a safe approach to sex for single people by reducing the temptation to drift in promiscuity. Lutheran churches in Scandinavian countries are known for being, in general, very liberally sexual in comparison with, for example, Lutheran churches in the Baltic states, more traditional ones.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Metropolitan America Chicago Synod believes that masturbation is sinful.
The Lutheran-Missouri Christian Church Commission The Synod on Theology and Church Relations says the following about masturbation: "To see our sexuality in the context of a personal relationship of mutual love and commitment in marriage helps us to evaluate practice. chronic masturbation is less than intention The Creator for us uses the gift of sexuality, that is, that our sex drive should be oriented towards communion with others in mutual love and marriage commitments. "
Doctor John Kleinig, Emeritus Lecturer at Australian Lutheran College, argued that, "The regular use of pornography for masturbation is a kind of sexual addiction.When Paul speaks of sexual impurity and greed as idolatry in Ephesians 5: 3-7 and Colossians 3: 5, he accurately describes how it works, beginning with sexual impurity, the impurity of our imagination with the imagery of sexual intercourse that presents the naked body as an idol for us to admire.Our fixation on these images evokes irregular desires and makes us more and more greedy for the sexual satisfaction of the things God has not given us for our pleasure, yet they fail to satisfy us and serve only to feed our growing lust for them... Where masturbation is involved... the more we become embarrassed, the more we become secrets, the more we become secret and cynic n we hide in the dark, the more vulnerable we become the accusations and the curse of Satan... You must be careful that Satan does not torture your perception by fooling you and making you focus on the wrong things. No place in the Bible is explicitly prohibited masturbation. There is a good reason for this because the problem is not derived from masturbation, which in itself is not good or bad, but the unfaithful sexual fantasies that accompany it, as Christ explained in Matthew 5:28. That's the problem spiritually!... That's how Satan overwhelms us through our imagination. If you use pornography to masturbate, you place another woman, an idol who promises heaven and gives you hell, sexually, in place of your wife. It evokes your greed for what you do not have, greedy for what God does not give you to enjoy, the increased greed when you give up on it. The more you spoil it, the less satisfied and you become empty. "
Reformed
John Calvin, founder of the Reformed tradition (which includes the Continental Reform, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and many Anglican Churches), teaches that the Onan part totally condemns the interruption of coitus. In his book Commentaries on Genesis (1554), Calvin taught that "the spilling of voluntary semen outside of a sexual relationship between a man and a woman is a terrible thing.Consciously to withdraw from sexual intercourse so that semen drops on the ground is doubled. "
Nevertheless, Calvin strongly opposes masturbation.
For Reformed Christians, masturbation began to be considered, as early as the seventeenth century, a major deviation, as evidenced by the Calvinist writings of Richard Capel: "Self-defamation is the worst and most contaminating the sins of impurity." Protestants today view masturbation much more seriously than Roman Catholics do.
According to Humbert, "Protestants, by rediscovering the Bible, have advanced the Old Testament idea of ​​Judaism, and among them the requirements of purity... In Calvinist interpretation of the Bible, children are affected from that moment, their birth to original sin, should start early to give them a strict education on the right moral. In this context, it explains the urge to eradicate the little caresses observed, the smallest flaws, and this from the youngest age. "Swiss Calvinists have a frantic search for purity, sexual pleasure is haphazard as an abomination.
Calvin's view permeated into Geneva and influenced the way the Huguenots thought about masturbation. For example, "For Rousseau, the moralist and puritanical citizen of the theocratic republic founded by John Calvin, masturbation is merely the activity of inflamed erotic imagination: it is not a legitimate or acceptable expression of sexuality, but a deviant, barren self-luxury that undermines one's energy and destroys one's mental and physical health. "
In the United States, the influence of Calvin and Puritan on the perception of female sexuality, including masturbation, was gradually eroded from the late 18th and early nineteenth century onwards: "the movement of birth control, the campaign of women's suffrage, the Free Love Movement, and finally the need for female labor at the factory began to offset the influence of John Calvin, the Mathers and "Mrs. Grundy."
Calvinists are renowned for their moral rigor and strict adherence to biblical standards of morality. Indeed, "Churches formed in the Calvinist tradition usually set very high standards of conduct."
The Calvinist Traditional Pastor of the United Protestant Church of France (EPUdf), believes that masturbation is a sin, stating, "Masturbation... is not one of God's prohibitions, so it can not be said that the Bible clearly defines masturbation as sin But the Bible is undoubtedly presents the place of sexual life in the context of committed and faithful couples (see Matthew 19:12), and it urges us to have our actions and mind fulfill these ideals, the practice of masturbation and the thought that may accompany it is clearly incompatible with -this is, and in this sense of sin.Of course, we do not always answer the perfection that God calls us... but to seek perfection is a call from Christians, to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:20) because this is our call as human beings created in the image of God, and the way of life for today and in the perspective of immortality Masturbation is not an act will of a Christian achievement, be called to live the blessing of marriage and fulfill their spouse in this arrangement (1 Corinthians 7: 5). "
Instead, a more liberal EPUdf thought was represented by L'Oratoire du Louvre in Paris. According to its website, this parish believes that masturbation is innocent, as long as it is not done in the spirit of rebellion against God and giving it does not become addicted.
In Switzerland, liberal Calvinist theologians Michel Cornuz, Carolina Costa and Jean-Charles Bichet all claim that masturbation is not a sin, as long as the use of pornography is not involved.
In a 1991 report on human sexuality, the Presbyterian Church (USA) states that "churches must reject historical destructive attitudes toward masturbation and replace it with positive affirmations of the role of masturbation in human sexuality."
The tenth Philadelphia Presbyterian Church affiliated with the more conservative Presbyterian Church in America argues, unlike the USA PC, that masturbation is a sin.
Protestant Church in the Netherlands' Doctor GA van Ginkel states, when asked whether it is sinful to masturbate if you are unmarried and you fantasize about an unmarried girl, "What matters most is that you see your body not from yourself Your life is God your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit God hates impurity It may sound harsh, but the Word of God speaks clearly when it happens It would be better if you can project your wishes sincerely, love and loyalty to him that God gave you !... But there's a problem there.You do not have it.You're not married.And maybe you do not want a woman out of God's hands at all !? You want to project your sexual fantasies on an unmarried woman.In your mind "do "with it.Focusing on yourself.But understandable, this is not a good solution... You are looking for biblical legitimacy and believing it in the fact that the Bible does not speak of self-gratification (The passage on Onan's sin has nothing to do with self-gratification.) But the Bible does speak about a holy and God-centered life. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: Everything you do, do it for the glory of God. Thinking of this Word on your own, you have no biblical legitimacy for your sexual projection. Pray for God by your side, with whom you can live life to honor His Name. This includes your sex life! This is desirable! "
The conservative American Calvinist website, Reformed Answers, argues that masturbation is only a sin if it contains a lustful fantasy for someone other than one's spouse: "... if an act of masturbation expresses the sin of lust, then the act of masturbation can be done, condemned as sin. this argument can not condemn the act of masturbation that gives no expression to the sin of lust. "The site notes that masturbation can only be opposed on moral rather than natural grounds:" Some argue that masturbation is wrong based on nature, that is, in a mode similar to that of argument based on Onan's sin, they argue that God did not design the human body and the reproductive system to work in this way, that the general revelation of God in nature condemns this practice.This is the weakest argument at best.In fact, there is some conflicting evidence. , many humans learn to masturbate without per nah taught or ever heard it, it seems like their "natural" impulse. In addition, humans are naturally equipped with the parts of the body needed to reach masturbation (unlike most animals). on these grounds is a natural thing. In addition, most Protestants reject the idea that what is natural is good - especially given our "sin nature". This is just a poor foundation for basing that argument again. masturbation. "
Reformed American writer Jay E. Adams argues that "masturbation is clearly wrong because it is a deviation from sexual acts", quoting 1 Corinthians 7: 3-4 to support his argument.
Another American, C. Matthew McMahon purists, argues, "... if all forms of sin are the product of lust, then it is evil and evil, if a man masturbates while watching a sensual film, then he has sinned." When masturbation grows from the sense of need for physical release because of the unclean mind, it is sin, it is easy to understand and can not be denied Bible... Self-love, turning into lust, is the heart of masturbation, Christians must move an attitude of holiness and sanctity, instead of impurity and defilement.When he does this he then "practices what he preaches." Although he says that holiness is right and good, he must live that way too.The question arises and should be answered "Is masturbation itself condemned?... Is that, in and of itself, a sin? I am biblically convinced that masturbation... can only be achieved through lust... "
McMahon also stated, "The need for a biblical treatment of lust and masturbation is necessary Satan has easily disguised this" horrible "topic as something that should not have been mentioned, and never reported.Current response to this is deafening silence. The topic of lust may sometimes be alluded to, but it never evolved into the precise "teaching" of biblical teaching on lust and masturbation, which actually developed into a study of the fruit of the Spirit (love of Christ more than "self", and self-control )... Because we desperately need Bible teaching on this subject, we turn to church to teach us what it means to be purely sexual, but Christians who struggle with this sin have little practical help from their local church. "
What is clear is that Calvinists oppose "sexual touch" (including mutual masturbation) between unmarried parties, even if they are engaged to each other. This is because this is a form of fornication.
Anglicanism
The Church of England has no position whether masturbation is a sin or not.
Historically, in 1948, a writer for the Church Times could still say, "Masturbation is condemned by all Christian moralists for implying the use of solitary and individualistic sexual activity intended for use in association." This ignores the truth that by this power God provides the physiological means for train them in common and common action. "
In 1945, the Archbishop Commission was appointed to study the issue of manmade insemination. The resulting report, published in 1948, "discusses the legitimacy of masturbation in this context and concludes that although masturbation destroys the natural unity of sexual acts, its use as a last resort is justified." The action that produces seminal fluid, in this example is directed towards completion ( impossible without it) from the end of the procreation of marriage, the loss of the character of self-torture.It can not be in this view, it becomes the will of God that husbands and wives should remain childless only because an action of this kind is necessary to promote conception.
In his letter to a Mr. Masson dated March 6, 1956, CS Lewis wrote: "To me, the real crime of masturbation is that it requires an appetite that, in legitimate use, leads the individual out of himself to solve (and correct) his own personality in the other (and finally in children and even grandchildren) and turn it back, sending the man back to his own prison, there to keep the imaginary bride's harem....... Masturbation involves the misuse of this imagination in erotic things (which I think are bad in itself) and thus encourage the same abuse in all areas. After all, almost the main job of life is out of us, out of the small dark prison we all are born.Masturbation should be avoided because all things to avoid that hamper this process.The danger is coming to love prison. "
According to the Roman Catholic website, today many Anglican books about sex and marriage advocate masturbation.
The conservative Anglican diocese in Sydney believes that masturbation "can help us find sexual release when we can not control our desires or satisfy them through marital relationships and in this sense it can help." However, Diocese notes that it can become associated with sin if it leads to the consumption of pornography or to search for people in real life with a passion for igniting fantasy. They warn that one of these can, in turn, suck someone into an uncontrollable cycle. The site goes on to note, "Jesus cursed to see women or girls for lust after them. (Matt 5:28) So degenerate... that many of the 17-year-old people will treat as usual, are sinful and offensive to God , it is easy to get caught up in cycles that drive sexual desire to the point where it can not be controlled... When masturbation leads to unhelpful sexual thoughts and your passions are sinful and need to do something about it, aggressive decisions to look elsewhere , or go to another place, or shut down the computer or whatever it takes! Jesus promises that when we are tempted, he will give us a way out (1 Cor 10:13.) I think it is much better to resist the temptation to masturbate. "( Resolution 1998 Lambeth Conference I.10 says that the use of pornography is a sin and includes it in the list of forms of sexual activity that are inherently contrary to the way of life Christian. Masturbation itself is not mentioned in the resolution at all, either in positive or negative terms.)
Methodism
John Wesley, founder of Methodism, as quoted by Bryan C. Hodge, believes that "semen waste in unproductive sexual acts, whether it should be in the form of masturbation or coitus interruptus, as in the case of Onan , destroying the soul of the individual who practices it ". Wesley regards masturbation as an unacceptable way to release "sexual tension". Like his contemporaries, he believed that many people became seriously ill and even died of "ordinary masturbation". He argues that "neurological disorders, even insanity, can be caused by other forms of excess body - masturbation." He wrote his thoughts on Sin Onan (1767), which was reproduced as a Word to Whom the Concerned in 1779, in an attempt to censor a work by Samuel Tissot -Auguste. In the document, Wesley warns of "the danger of self-pollution", this is the physical and mental bad effects of masturbation, recording many such cases along with treatment recommendations.
Dale Kaufman, a pastor at Free Methodist Church, taught:
Solitary masturbation is not an act that endangers the individual body (and in fact, the release of sexual tension can improve the well-being of the body), nor does it involve the joining of one's body and soul with another as well as sexual intercourse.. Through the release of sexual tension, it can act as a barrier to seeking release through immoral channels. Part of honoring God with our bodies is doing whatever it takes to keep our bodies under control - and in the field of sexuality, masturbation can be an effective way to do it.... It is very important that we let them know that masturbation can and should be used as a proper and honorable way of God to deal with the pressure of their newly acquired sexuality. With a sex-saturated society all around us, we as parents, young priests, and other caring adults need to give our young men and women the ability to live godly lives in the midst of a bad culture. Masturbation, within the bounds of the Bible, helps give them that ability.
United Methodist Church has no official position in masturbation.
The Uniting Church in Australia teaches that "masturbation is an important part of childhood and adolescent discovery and sexual development." It should not be stigmatized. " However, the Church has long been plagued by controversies and divisions over sexuality. "The Church's Interim Report on Sexuality... was released in May 1996. It became the most explosive document in the short history of UCA.The report must be controversial for some people considering it speaks positively about the ordination of homosexual ministers, it is suggested that pre-marital sex does not live in sin 'and describes masturbation as "natural sexual activity (which) can be a positive experience." Not only does it draw much debate from within the Church but also from mainstream media, covering - and its fall - extensively In the following months < i> Light Crossing [Uniting Church magazine] is flooded with letters of complaints about reports and its authors... The Church receives over 8000 responses to reporting almost 90 percent - representing views of 21,000 members - negative. "
During the debate, the former Assembly Confessing Congregation chairman Rev Dr Max Champion "argues that any proposal to change the current position of the Church... needs to be based on theology, something he does not believe has happened... Dr. Champion says he believes there has been a shift in thoughts from some inside
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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